The Lost Forest: An Unexpected Discovery beneath the Waves

by Jennifer Swanson

Overview

After local fishers noticed a large swarm of fish in an unlikely area in the Gulf of Mexico, a team of divers found the remains of a forest deep beneath the waves. The ancient trees had been undisturbed for more than fifty thousand years before finally being uncovered by Hurricane Ivan in 2004. Acclaimed science writer Jennifer Swanson brings readers along with a group of scientists as they work to explore and map the site, collect samples of cypress wood, and learn about the marine creatures that live here—namely, shipworms. Page Plus links lead to videos of the scientists at work.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781728493015
Publisher:	Lerner Publishing Group
Publication date:	04/02/2024
Pages:	56
Sales rank:	846,337
Product dimensions:	10.88(w) x 9.13(h) x 0.00(d)
Age Range:	10 - 11 Years

About the Author

Jennifer Swanson is the author of 45+ nonfiction books for kids. Her passion for science and technology resonates in all her books and her work has won multiple awards including a Green Earth Book Honor Award, three Florida Book Awards, California Reading Association awards, a Parent's Choice Gold award, and a 2021 Kirkus Best Books Award. Jennifer is an accomplished speaker at events and schools around the country, the Highlights Foundation, the National NSTA conferences, the World Science Festival in NYC, and the Library of Congress' National Book Festival. She lives in Jacksonville with her husband and two dogs.

Editorial Reviews

"This book details the fascinating story of the dedicated scuba divers and their work to locate and preserve the area. No one has ever found such a unique habitat, and hopefully, no one will be able to disturb it as scientists work to keep it safe. Readers who enjoy earthly mysteries will enjoy this title. Reviewer Rating: 5"—Children's Literature

From the Publisher

04/01/2024

Gr 4–6—When some fishermen noticed a school of fish in an unusual spot in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Alabama in 2005, they discovered a lost underwater forest that was over 60,000 years old. The age was determined by a team of scientists who have been studying the forest since before the pandemic, which slowed down their research. Scientists intend to study this underwater forest to learn more about deep-sea ecosystems and the adaptability of wildlife. The book features photographs of the dives to the forest and the surrounding ecosystem. Scientific processes are explained and illustrated, and several at-home experiments are provided. QR codes to videos are included throughout for an interactive experience. There is a table of contents; back matter includes an author's note, experiments, glossary, index, bibliography, and further resources. VERDICT A decent addition to nonfiction collections seeking more books about the ocean and marine ecosystems.—Kristin J. Anderson

School Library Journal

2024-02-17
Explore a most unusual cypress forest.

Swanson chronicles a team of marine scientists’ efforts to explore a newly exposed underwater forest in the Gulf of Mexico. The forest was flooded and submerged 60,000 years ago during an ice age. In 2004, Hurricane Ivan’s winds uncovered the forest, leaving a rich new environment for underwater creatures. Locals who fished the area were the first to notice the particularly productive spot. Scientists from the Marine Science Center at Northeastern University and the Ocean Genome Legacy Center, supported by the Dauphin Island Sea Lab team, dove using scuba gear and also relied on underwater robots; they collected data and retrieved cypress wood samples to learn more about the sea creatures there, especially shipworms. Descriptive accounts of dives make clear the challenges: the pressure exerted by the deep water, the lack of visibility, and the delays caused by Covid-19 shutdowns. Swanson alternates between dives and lab work, breaking up the illuminating text with occasional sidebars. She concludes with ongoing research questions and efforts toward protection of this remarkable ecosystem. The book’s lively design features wavelike patterns, photos, QR codes leading to videos on the publisher’s website, and drawings that help explain gene sequencing and core sampling. Most of the team of 13 present as white in group photos and action shots.

A detailed, thought-provoking account of the work of scientists. (author’s note, information on cellulose and submerged wood, grow your own underwater plants, glossary, source notes, bibliography, further reading, websites, videos, index, photo credits) (Nonfiction. 10-14)

Kirkus Reviews